Carefree: Far from the madding crowd

“When I fly above the clouds, when I fly upon the maddening crowd” are the lyrics from Paul McCartney’s 1971 album “3 Legs” - from the Thomas Hardy novel, Far from the Madding Crowd. It is the perfect description of our iconic small town in the foothills of the Continental mountains - and our best marketing tool to lure local visitors to our quiet  and “Cool” town.

Flying above the clouds evokes freedom and escape from the chaotic environment to the south of Carefree. There is no better place to find a quiet distance from a frantic world. But our town remains based on a reality that calls for the financial strength to provide services and the high quality of life our residents have come to expect. The financial health of Carefree depends on a robust and diversified sales tax base. Therein lies the challenge for a town that has historically been defined as a small-town, resort community, even a tourist town. The challenge has been, how to survive – and even thrive – in the off-season. The key to success is shifting from tourist impulse sales to recurring, diversified revenue.

In June, Carefree took a large step to make our sales tax base more robust. Following months of collaboration between the Town of Carefree and a new ownership group, Orchard Street Market, the Town Council unanimously approved a sales tax development agreement. The groundwork has been laid to bring new life to the historic Los Portales Mall, located in the Carefree Town Center at the corner of Easy Street and Ho Hum Road.

The building has been a longstanding architectural landmark in the heart of Carefree for nearly 50 years. This investment represents an opportunity to breathe new life into a treasured property, create new destinations for residents and visitors, and strengthen the economic vitality of our Town Center for decades to come.

For many long-time residents and visitors, Los Portales Mall represents an important part of Carefree’s history. In its prime, the property was filled with shops, restaurants, and gathering spaces that made it a cherished destination and helped define the Carefree Town Center experience. Orchard Street Market will recapture that same sense of activity and connection while introducing fresh, modern offerings that reflect the needs of today’s residents, businesses, and visitors.

Los Portales is beginning a new chapter - under new ownership - with a vision to restore the character and life envisioned by the Town’s founders. And at the same time, Carefree is moving from a tourist driven destination to a destination frequented by residents enjoying experiences to the betterment of their quality of life and to the benefit of the financial health of our town.